Players double-check their hands for various reasons. If they’ve already bet and, under the threat of a call, they look back and continue to stare at the hand, there’s a very high probability that they are weak or bluffing, That’s an act designed to make you think they’re studying a powerful hand. We’ll handle that related subject in Chapter 6 — Tells From Actors. It’s also discussed in Chapter 7 — Some General Tells, in Section XXII, titled Gaining Information. Right now we’re dealing with something entirely different. This section is about genuine instinctive double-checking. You can distinguish it from the acted double-check, because in the genuine kind the player will-look only long enough to determine whatever he must. Then he’ll usually look away and guard his hand. But in cases where that genuine second look finds a bad hand, the player might decide to keep staring at it (for reasons relating to acting). Whether or not the original motive for the double-check was genuine, if the player continues to stare he then holds a weak hand. If he peeks quickly, then glances away, you must ask yourself: What could this opponent be checking for? Usually the answer is apparent. If it’s seven stud through fifth street (the fifth card has been dealt) and all three exposed cards are suited, then a quick glance to his hole cards probably means the player is checking to see if he has one more card of that suit. That tell is important because you know immediately that he does not have two cards of that suit, so he doesn’t yet have a flush. Had he held two suited cards, he’d know it immediately, since the fifth card would have given him the flush he was hoping for. If a player hits a third suited card, then looks quickly at his hole cards, you must reason he does not have a flush and you can confidently bet hands you would otherwise have checked. Suppose you’re playing draw lowball and, after a rash of raises, your opponent draws one card. Suppose, further, that he is guarding the four cards that he’s keeping in one hand. With the other hand he reaches for the card he’s just drawn and peeks at it. Then he immediately turns his attention to his other cards, double-checking briefly. This should tell you that he caught a low card and either made the strong hand or paired. You should, therefore, revise your normal strategy by not betting anything but a premium hand. You should definitely not bet a smooth eight (like 8-5-3-2-A), because your opponent either made a much better hand and will raise, or he paired and will not call. So, you must check. If he subsequently bets, you should call with your eight only if you would also call with a king. That’s because your eight can win only if he paired and is bluffing. If an eight wins, a king would win also. Remember, players double-check for a reason. It’s your job to figure out what that reason is. Here are some pictures …

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